2011 Watcher of the Year Dilemma

[Cambo]

How'd you get to be king? I didn't vote for you!

I'll tell you how! By exploiting the workers! By hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma, which perpetuates the economic and cultural differences, in our society.

Help! Help! I'm being repressed!

Ah, NOW we see the violence inherent in the system! Come and see the violence inherent in the system!

[MsMary]

I voted to let the results stand.

It's been so long since I voted that I honestly don't remember who I voted for. And I'm not likely to vote in a re-match.

[Avatar]

Nah, you know what they say. Don't vote, lose your right to complain. Right, Av?

Wrong, man. Totally wrong.

If you vote, you lose your right to complain. By voting, you enter into a tacit agreement to abide by the outcome of the vote.

Therefore, no matter the outcome, you chose (and promised) to accept it by voting.

Anyway, I'll screw this up a bit more. I vote STET. Let it stand.

Thereby tying the poll. (For now anyway.)

I say let it stand, and give each winner the right to the Watchy. I don't think anybody would disagree that each of them is deserving of it.

Of course, this also removes them all from eligibility in the future.

--A

[Savor Dam]

I say let it stand, and give each winner the right to the Watchy. I don't think anybody would disagree that each of them is deserving of it.

Of course, this also removes them all from eligibility in the future.

Precisely the case I was making much earlier upthread.

While I understand the point made by Syl's co-mod about awarding WOTY (in some varient) to all five nominees, this accomplishes in a single stroke the recognition of several long-time lights of the Watch (even if one of them might be characterized as having been a bit of a blacklight in more recent incarnations) and clearing the decks for consideration of other Watcher in future rounds of Watchy voting.

Let's be clear here. The last time there was a truly open WOTY contest was the 2008 WOTY. There was never any question about 2009...there was no other possible choice but Furls Fire...not because other nominees were undeserving (he hastens to say), but because...because..

('scuse me...)

Anyway, having missed 2010, we now have not awarded a competitive WOTY for a very long time, and there are a lot of people who deserve recognition. If none of the nominees mind being part of a mass coronation, we can move into the future without having so large a group awaiting their chance for this signal honor.

[Blackhawk]

whats a run off? I would vote but when i tried to, I couldnt find the place to submit my vote.. and when I found the link posted for voting it took me to the nomination page which then involved sending a message to a mailbox i couldnt find.... it would be better if the voting process were as simple as clicking a button next to the nominees name... sort of like when you vote to see if there should be a run off...is that possible? Sorry..ive been having long days and by the time i get home I am too tired to do much thinking

can you put the three nominees up with a button and then have everyone re-vote on just the ties as we do with any other poll?

[I'm Murrin]

I say go for the runoff election. Seems right to me that there be a single winner, rather than a longlist, for something like Watcher of the Year.

Perhaps next year we could consider an alteration to the voting system to reduce the number of ties (that's a discussion for another place, I think).

[Menolly]

Blackhawk, if there is a run-off, it will most likely be done via PM. Right now the sheriff is polling Watchers to see if the consensus is if there should be one. You can vote regarding that in the poll at the top of this thread.

[deer of the dawn]

Where's that cat-in-the-box thing when you really need it?

[sgt.null]

without a run-off we are rudderless, adrift, lost...

[dlbpharmd]

The people have spoken.

Let the results stamd.

[MsMary]

The people have spoken.

Let the results stamd.

Really? Looks like the poll is close to a tie. In the other direction.

But Syl already said it was an informal poll, not a vote.

[dlbpharmd]

The people have spoken.

Let the results stamd.

Really? Looks like the poll is close to a tie. In the other direction.

But Syl already said it was an informal poll, not a vote.

I'm talking about the 3-way tie for WOTY, not the current poll.

[MsMary]

So am I.

[Avatar]

Out of interest, how many total votes were there in this category?

--A

[[Syl]]

20

[Avatar]

Well, at least we're theoretically prevented from another 3-way tie...Cause if we revoted, it's not like I would change my vote.

--A

[[Syl]]

Alright, I think it's clear enough at this point. There are good reasons for both keeping the results as they are or doing a recount. However, the slight lead in the poll aside, it seems to be an even split (with more people voting here than submitted ballots). Either way, some will be happy, some won't.

I'm going to go with my initial decision. I don't like second-guessing myself without good reason, and I don't like to make things more complicated than they have to be. I like winning, and beyond that, I like to see as many people win as possible, as those who may remember the inaugural Watchies can attest (fewer members/major personalities back then, so some people would've swept the majority of the awards without a little prioritization).

Going forward, I think there will be no tie-breakers. I have a revamped process in mind, where, like what Av is doing in the Tank now, people who want to vote will register, and only registered voters can participate in the polls (making recording votes easy and reliable and hopefully making voting easier for everyone. no photo ID required ). The mods' job will simply be to verify registration in the voter group, organize the nominations, and create the polls. More facilitators than directors. I won't feel guilty for voting.

So again, congratulations to all. I hope everyone realizes that it's an honor just to be regarded enough by your fellow Watchers to be nominated. I will also say that I don't think any of the nominees got blown out, with many categories being incredibly close.

[sgt.null]

so i barely beat myself in the poetry category?

[Dread Poet Jethro]

That sounds kinky, Sarge
But surely that bare beating
Had Julie assist?